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(Thread) Lordy, There Are Tapes
We learned that Bob Woodward has tapes of Trump admitting that he knew in Jan. that the world faced a health emergency on par with the flu pandemic of 1918, which killed an estimated 50 million people worldwide, and lied about it.
Mindy asked: https://twitter.com/mindyanns/status/1303900760187363328
We learned that Bob Woodward has tapes of Trump admitting that he knew in Jan. that the world faced a health emergency on par with the flu pandemic of 1918, which killed an estimated 50 million people worldwide, and lied about it.
Mindy asked: https://twitter.com/mindyanns/status/1303900760187363328
1/ I believe the answer is no.
First, recall the arguments made by the Fox-Trump-GOP for why we should do nothing–even after we knew the virus was deadly: https://twitter.com/ndrew_lawrence/status/1242245135129346050
First, recall the arguments made by the Fox-Trump-GOP for why we should do nothing–even after we knew the virus was deadly: https://twitter.com/ndrew_lawrence/status/1242245135129346050
2/ They said we have a choice: People die from COVID, or we “kill the country”:
https://twitter.com/JasonSCampbell/status/1242589583185006594
They said deaths from a shutdown could exceed the deaths from the virus.
https://www.bostonherald.com/2020/04/16/deaths-from-shutdown-could-exceed-those-from-virus/
https://twitter.com/JasonSCampbell/status/1242589583185006594
They said deaths from a shutdown could exceed the deaths from the virus.
https://www.bostonherald.com/2020/04/16/deaths-from-shutdown-could-exceed-those-from-virus/
3/ This was a made-up fact—but the Trump-Fox-GOP never denied people would die from the virus. They just argued that it was the lesser of the two evils.
Trump made clear that his concern was to protect the stock market (which he conflates with the economy).
Trump made clear that his concern was to protect the stock market (which he conflates with the economy).
4/ Trump believed that a strong economy would get him elected, so he resisted proactive steps that would spook the markets. Fox backed him up.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/tv/news/tucker-carlson-blames-dr-fauci-for-coronavirus-economic-woes-with-deceptive-clip-video/ar-BB17YPAL
The Trump-Fox-GOP disregards facts and makes up what they need.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/tv/news/tucker-carlson-blames-dr-fauci-for-coronavirus-economic-woes-with-deceptive-clip-video/ar-BB17YPAL
The Trump-Fox-GOP disregards facts and makes up what they need.
5/ Remember all those absurd arguments on social media?
Examples include: We didn’t shut down for the flu, which killed 61K people, so why do so for COVID.
We drive even though traffic accidents kill.
Dumb stuff like that.
Examples include: We didn’t shut down for the flu, which killed 61K people, so why do so for COVID.
We drive even though traffic accidents kill.
Dumb stuff like that.
6/ On May 28, the COVID death count in the US passed 100K.
In July–after it was clear to everyone that the virus was serious–Team Trump “shied away from a national strategy” because it was hitting blue states. https://www.businessinsider.com/kushner-covid-19-plan-maybe-axed-for-political-reasons-report-2020-7
In July–after it was clear to everyone that the virus was serious–Team Trump “shied away from a national strategy” because it was hitting blue states. https://www.businessinsider.com/kushner-covid-19-plan-maybe-axed-for-political-reasons-report-2020-7
7/ And remember this
They mean that when a government tries to help people instead of maintaining a hierarchy, it’s “communism.”
Moreover, even if Trump wanted to take proactive steps, he didn’t know how. He has no idea how to manage a pandemic. Nor does anyone around him.
They mean that when a government tries to help people instead of maintaining a hierarchy, it’s “communism.”
Moreover, even if Trump wanted to take proactive steps, he didn’t know how. He has no idea how to manage a pandemic. Nor does anyone around him.
8/ In fact, Trump has never actually managed anything in his life except his image and the Trump Reality Show.
Also, remember that Trump dismantled Obama's Pandemic Preparedness System, so he had no government apparatus for handling the pandemic. https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2020/05/trump-obama-coronavirus-pandemic-response
Also, remember that Trump dismantled Obama's Pandemic Preparedness System, so he had no government apparatus for handling the pandemic. https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2020/05/trump-obama-coronavirus-pandemic-response
9/ Even after the death count was rising, Trump refused to use the Defense Production Act to mobilize industry to produce masks and ventilators.
He didn’t want to “put down the heavy hand of government.”
He wanted private companies fill the need. https://www.npr.org/2020/03/25/821285204/trump-sends-mixed-messages-about-invoking-defense-production-act
He didn’t want to “put down the heavy hand of government.”
He wanted private companies fill the need. https://www.npr.org/2020/03/25/821285204/trump-sends-mixed-messages-about-invoking-defense-production-act
10/ In other words, he wanted to make sure he and his buddies got rich. Because that’s what fascists do.
Moreover, Trump didn't even didn't hide that he was being a "cheerleader" so he wouldn't "create havoc."
On April 7, he said: https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-statements/remarks-president-trump-vice-president-pence-members-coronavirus-task-force-press-briefing-april-7-2020/
Moreover, Trump didn't even didn't hide that he was being a "cheerleader" so he wouldn't "create havoc."
On April 7, he said: https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-statements/remarks-president-trump-vice-president-pence-members-coronavirus-task-force-press-briefing-april-7-2020/
11/ Shortly after the "Woodward has tapes" story broke, John Harwood reported that
If Trump so casually told Woodward his strategy and reasons, he would have told anyone—confident that minimizing the virus was the wisest strategy
(and the only thing he was capable of doing)
If Trump so casually told Woodward his strategy and reasons, he would have told anyone—confident that minimizing the virus was the wisest strategy
(and the only thing he was capable of doing)
12/ You see, the “White House staffers” don’t care how many people die. Trump doesn’t care. He also doesn’t think it’s his job to manage a virus.
On July 21, Trump told Woodward: “The virus has nothing to do with me. It’s not my fault.” https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/bob-woodward-rage-book-trump/2020/09/09/0368fe3c-efd2-11ea-b4bc-3a2098fc73d4_story.html
On July 21, Trump told Woodward: “The virus has nothing to do with me. It’s not my fault.” https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/bob-woodward-rage-book-trump/2020/09/09/0368fe3c-efd2-11ea-b4bc-3a2098fc73d4_story.html
13/ Fascists aren't capable of managing real crises (they prefer invented ones, which is why Eastasia is always at war with Eurasia).
All they can do is blame: It's China's fault!
Now Fox blames Woodward (as if they didn't know the truth all along). https://www.foxnews.com/media/woodward-book-trump-recordings
All they can do is blame: It's China's fault!
Now Fox blames Woodward (as if they didn't know the truth all along). https://www.foxnews.com/media/woodward-book-trump-recordings
14/ Here's the “liberals hate Trump and blame him no matter what he does so it doesn’t matter if he does nothing” argument.
https://twitter.com/EWErickson/status/1303853466360610818
When any story breaks, the Fox-Trump-GOP rush to alter facts and blame the Democrats.
https://twitter.com/EWErickson/status/1303853466360610818
When any story breaks, the Fox-Trump-GOP rush to alter facts and blame the Democrats.
15/ Yes, definitely.
With almost 200K people dead, the story has an entirely different impact.
On the heels of the “soldiers are suckers” story, this is not good for Trump.
With almost 200K people dead, the story has an entirely different impact.
On the heels of the “soldiers are suckers” story, this is not good for Trump.
16/ Trump’s support will not crater, and the GOP will not flee– but these revelations can still make a difference.
@RachelBitecofer, an elections and polling expert, believes that Trump has a floor of about 43%.
@RachelBitecofer, an elections and polling expert, believes that Trump has a floor of about 43%.
17/ Currently the aggregates show Trump with about 46%
A few days ago, we wondered if “soldiers are loser and suckers” story would make a difference. A YouGov Poll found:
So these things can eat at his support in small bites. https://twitter.com/YouGovAmerica/status/1303777738919116800
A few days ago, we wondered if “soldiers are loser and suckers” story would make a difference. A YouGov Poll found:
So these things can eat at his support in small bites. https://twitter.com/YouGovAmerica/status/1303777738919116800
18/ While nothing will crater his base support () these things can eat at his percentage in small bites.
We have an election just around the corner (voting in at least 5 states starts in September) and Trump is down in the polls. He doesn’t have much time to turn this around
) these things can eat at his percentage in small bites.We have an election just around the corner (voting in at least 5 states starts in September) and Trump is down in the polls. He doesn’t have much time to turn this around
19/ The Economist polling aggregate currently projects Biden winning by 7.2 percentage points.
The 538 aggregate currently has Biden up by 6.7 percentage points. (On Twitter, @ForecasterEnten gives the number as 8 percentage points. I assume the aggregate runes behind.)
The 538 aggregate currently has Biden up by 6.7 percentage points. (On Twitter, @ForecasterEnten gives the number as 8 percentage points. I assume the aggregate runes behind.)
20/ Recall that the Democrats won the midterms by 8 percentage points.
If a story like this moves the needle just one or two percentage points, that could make an enormous difference: Winning the election by 9 or 10 points makes a much bigger difference than winning by 7 points.
If a story like this moves the needle just one or two percentage points, that could make an enormous difference: Winning the election by 9 or 10 points makes a much bigger difference than winning by 7 points.
23/ A point or two can make a difference in the Senate, and down ballot races. State and local offices are hugely important.
So yes, this kind of thing can make a difference.
Just keep your expectations realistic.
So yes, this kind of thing can make a difference.
Just keep your expectations realistic.
This thread is on my blog, here: https://terikanefield-blog.com/lordy-there-are-tapes/
Thanks, @DemCastUSA and @mindyanns for republishing my post on the Demcast site. https://twitter.com/mindyanns/status/1304211950360911872
They are immune to facts.
